It was great spending the last four days learning from women in the Bible. I enjoyed doing this series as I did with the Psalms. Thank you to all who have been encouraged by my writings.
Hagar
Genesis 16:13-14 says, So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!” Hagar was Sari’s servant. After Abram and Sarai couldn’t conceive – Sarai his wife took her servant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
Pause for a worthy cause – Who said, ‘the Bible is boring?’ Anyway, on to the story. (LOL)
Pregnant Hagar is now seen as a rival in Sari’s eyes. She is abused and mistreated so severely that she runs off into a deserted place. Her future doesn’t look good through no fault of hers. To her surprise the angel of the Lord appears to her just as she reaches her breaking point.
A grownup conversation begins with the angel and feeling encouraged she gives God the name El Roi (The God Who sees me).
Sometimes injustice comes through rape, incest, sexually abusive partners, and the laundry list of the ills of the tiny close-knit village where little girls grow up to become women. A child is born many times maybe not always in a human form but mentally and emotionally giving birth to painful memories.
As women we run into lonely places hiding emotions for decades, but there is always El Roi more tenderly known as ‘The God Who Sees Me’ following in full pursuit to have a grownup conversation.
As wounded women we find ways to make things work even when we don’t know how – but El Roi – the God who sees you has prepared for you a fountain of resources that you can live a productive life coming out of your place of hiding.
Anyone who has ever felt invisible to God, anyone who has felt unworthy or not good enough, anyone who has felt abandoned or betrayed let it be known this day and everyday from now on – El Roi is available 24/7.
Maybe things were going well until the mask fell off and you woke up from a nightmare. In the chaos of everything that has happened (passed or present) trust God no matter what you see or hear or know. If you ask, “Where is God in all this?” Just as the angel saw Hagar sitting out alone in an abandon place and made his presence known, He sees you too.
This story is encouraging if you have been victimized and want to run and hide in a solitary place. God has not overlooked your location. God cares what has happened to you. He pays great attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So, don’t be intimidated by what others has done to you.
Our real need in a bad situation is not to escape, but to seek and submit to the Lord. No one gets the luxury to pick their battles but there is El Roi (The God Who sees me) to match anything you may face today, tomorrow, or the next day.
Finally, stop reading over the last chapter. Quote: “Don’t ask why someone keeps hurting you. Ask why you keep letting them.” Life becomes happier when you refuse to live where people left you. Prove yourself wrong – you are more powerful than what you have survived.
Amazing Grace 